OH city celebrates 175th with century time capsule

JASON HENRYThe Morning Journal Published: August 4, 2012 11:15 AM

VERMILION, Ohio (AP) -- The city of Vermilion has buried its history in hopes of presenting it to residents 100 years from now.

The city placed a time capsule of 2012 relics in to the ground at the veterans memorial at Exchange Park as part of its 175th anniversary celebration.

It is slated to remain closed until 2121. Inside future residents will find items such as a copy of the U.S. Constitution, the Ohio Constitution, a 2012 Vermilion phone book, pictures of the city, restaurant menus, tourist brochures, a light house figurine, stones from the beach, a yearbook, a city directory and more than 50 personalized cards from residents who paid $1 per card. One resident wrote his life story, while another provided her family tree.

The anniversary committee tried to choose items that would not likely be easy to find in hundred years as well as items that signify the city, Mayor Eileen Bulen said.

The final piece to the capsule was a personal letter from the mayor.

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"I am hoping that when you are reading this letter 100 years from now, some of our future relatives will be in attendance," Bulen said, while reading from the letter at the capsule ceremony.

Bulen outlined some of the city's history and hopes for the future in the letter.

"Our hope and dream is to develop all of this river front and lake front beach property for use by the public for generations to come," she said.

She ended the message with a request.

"Please treasure our community and work together to keep our town thriving for many more 100 year celebrations," she said.

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The anniversary's king and queen, Jim Hart, 92, and Dawn Full, 94, offered a few words at the ceremony.

"I've watched the city grow. It's becoming a more wonderful place than I've ever been," Full said. "In 100 years, remember us."

Hart felt proud of his title as king.

"I never dreamed anything like this would happen to me, but it has," he said.

As he handed the microphone back, he added: "Time goes on."

The capsule was sealed with two silicone sealants and then buried in front of the veterans memorial. The marker reads: "Time Capsule Buried Here 2012, Open in 2112."

"We decided it would be a good thing to do, to open in 100 years and preserve the history of the city," Bulen said.

The capsule was part of the city's 175th anniversary celebration, which included free swimming, kids games and a community picnic with free food and drink.

The celebration included a dedication ceremony as the Great Lakes Historical Society gifted the city with its lighthouse. The society's Inland Seas Maritime Museum is moving to Toledo in 2013.

The city has optioned the museum for purchase and hopes to raise $1,650,000 through donations and grants. The society accepted the offer on June 30.

The lighthouse was built in 1992 as a replica of a similar lighthouse from 1877. The Light House Society removed the original Vermilion Lighthouse in 1929 for repairs, Bulen said.

"They took it away to repair it and never brought it back," she said. "It is now in Lake Ontario."

The donations collected from sales during the 175th anniversary celebration, as well as the money from the time capsule cards, will go toward the purchase of the museum.